Saddle



July 7, 1931.

F. MESINGER SADDLE 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 13

' v INVEN TOR fiederzc/rflfwmyar ATTORNEY July 7, 1931. MESINGER 1,813,672

SADDLE Filed Aug. 13, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVEQJTOR fiazierz Mjyarz aye/ All s ATTOR EY Patented July 7, 1931 UNETED STATES- FREDERICK MESINGER, OF MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK SADDLE Application filed August 13, 1923. Serial No. 385,651.

This invention relates to saddles, and more particularly to saddles for motorcycles and similar vehicles, the primary object of the invention being to provide a saddle of this 5 type of simple construction which will afford a comfortable seat for the rider.

It is a more particular object of my invention to provide an improved pivotal mounting of the forward or pommel end of the saddle top upon a frame or base suitably mounted upon the cycle frame, together with means for resiliently cushioning the pivotal movements of. the saddle top relative to said supporting frame.

v More particularly, inone practical embodiment of the invention, the saddle top at its forward end is provided upon the under side thereof with a rigid metal plate pivotally mounted upon the forward end of the fixed supporting frame. A plurality of coil springs have their forward ends connected to said plate over the padding on the underside of the saddle top and are attached at their rear ends to the rear edge of a transversely extending frame plate to which the edge of the saddle top is secured.

' It is a further general object of the invention to provide a novel saddle construction of the above character in which the several parts are of relatively simpleme'chanical form so that'the new saddle may be manufactured and sold at comparatively small cost.

With the above and other objects in view, .7 the invention consists in the improved saddle for motorcycles and the like, and'in the form, construction and relative arrangement of its several parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and subsequently incorporated in the subjoined claims.

a In the drawings, wherein I have illustrated one simple and practical'embodiment of the invention, and in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,' v Figure 1 is a bottom plan viewshowing a saddle constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; i

'Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 2'-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a similar fragmentary sectional view of the forward end of the saddle showing 'therelative position of the parts when the saddle top has been pivotally moved from its normal position under pressure;

Fig. l is a transverse sectional view taken on the line H of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a similar sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 2, and d Fig. 6 is a detail fragmentary elevation of the rear frame plate showing the means for attachment of the cushioning springs theretol Referring in detail ,tothe drawings, 5 designates a supporting frame for the saddle top, which in the illustrated embodiment of the device is in the form of a substantially Y-shaped rigid metal bar. Any usual or approved means may be employed for mounting this frame upon the saddle post of the cycle. The divergent branches or arms 6 of the frame 5- eXtend rearwardly from the forward channel-shaped end 7 of the frame, said end 7 being provided at its opposite side edges with the upwardly projecting ears 8 and carrying an attaching bolt 9ffor connection to the usual heavy resilient wire frame or other part mounted on the saddlepost.

'The rear ends of the arms 6 of the frame 5 are connected by a transversely disposed plate 10 secured to each of said frame arms by the spaced bolts 11. This plate is of concavo-convexform and provides arigid back to which the saddle top is secured.

The saddle top consists of asingle leather sheet 12Qwhich is cut to suitable shape and has its marginal edges folded inwardly as indicated at 13. This in-turned marginal edge portion of the leather top sheet .12 at the wider or rear end of the saddle extends over the'outer side of the back plate 10 and is rigidly secured thereto by a metal strip 14; overlying the edge of the leather sheet and securely clamped thereon by means of a plurality of screws 15 passing throughregistering openings in said metal strip and the edge of the leather sheet and having threaded engagement in coinciding openings provided in the back plate 10.

sheet 12of the saddle is covered by athick 3 The entire under side of'the leathertop 7 sheet of padding material 16 and at the forward or pommel end of the saddle, a transversely curved metal plate 17 is arranged upon said padding. The marginal edge portion 13 of the leather top seat 12 extends inwardly over the edge of the plate 17 and is fixed thereto by the clamping strip 18 and the screws 19' in a manner similar to the attachment of the rear edge of the leather top sheet with the back plate 10. Thus, this metal plate 17 rigidly retains the forward or pommel end of the saddle in the desired predetermined shape or form.

The forwardly extending end 7 of the frame 5 fits more or less closely between the opposite side portions of the transversely curved plate 1'] and the ears 8 thereof are pivotally engaged by a transverse pin 20 mounted in the opposite sides of said plate 17. Thus, it will be understood that the forward or pommel end of the saddle may have a pivotal or rocking movement relative to the forward end of the frame 5.

For the purpose of yieldably supporting the saddle top between the front and rear ends thereof and cushioning its flexing movement with respect to the frame 5 under the weight of the rider, I provide a plurality of long coiled springs 21. These springs are so spaced relative to each other and are of such number as to more or less uniformly distribute the sustaining function thereof over the entire area of the flexible saddle top. The plate 17 is provided at its rear end with laterally divergent wings or extensions indicated at 17 which afford a relatively long curved.

rear edge on said plate in which equi-distantly spaced openings 22 are provided through which terminal hooks on the forward ends of the springs 21 are engaged. From the plate 17, the several springs 21 diverge rearwardly and their rear ends are disposed through spaced slots 23 in the back plate. 10 and tightly clampedagainst the outer face of the back plate by the metal strip 14. When the springs are thus attached they are tensioned sufficiently to exert a yielding upward pres? sure against the padding material 16. Thus, in effect, there is provided an elastic seat. When the weight of the rider is impressed upon the saddle top, said top isdepressed relative to the frame 5 and rearwardly of the pivot 20. The plate 17 rocks upon this pivot so that the forward or pommel end of the saddle top assumes the upwardly inclined position with respect to the forward end of the frame 5 approximately as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. In this rocking move? ment of the plate 17, the springs 21 are further tensioned so that with a lessening of the pressure on the saddle top, the said springs act to return the flexible top towards its normal position as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Therefore, it will be evident that the smaller road shocks .or vibrations transmitted through the cycle frame are effectively absorbed in the saddle structure and the body of the rider will not noticeably be effected thereby. Thus a cycle saddle or seat affording a maximum of riding comfort to the user is provided.

From the foregoing description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction, manner of operation and several advantages of my new saddle construction will be clearly and fully understood. The several parts are of simple and durable mechanical form and may be expeditiously assembled so that the manufacturing cost of such saddles is not appreciably increased. It will be understood that the general shape or contour of the saddle as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings is not an important feature, but my invention may be readily applied with resort to minor mechanical changes in the form or armngenient of the several elements to saddles of various other shapes and sizes. It is accordingly to be understood that in practice, I reserve the privilege of adopting all such legitimate modifications, as may be fairly embodied Within the spirit and scope of the invention ,as claimed. l

I claim:

1. A cycle saddle including a rigid frame, a flexible saddle top, means supporting the rear end of the saddle top at its marginal edge upon said frame, a pommel plate piv? otally mounted on the frame and supporting the forward end of the saddle top with re? spect thereto, and a plurality .of resiliently ,v'ie dabl ement of b tantially equal length extending longitudinally beneath the saddle top in contact therewith all con: nected a their forward ends with said pom? mel plate to yieldably resist movement of the saddle top and the pommel plate and retain the s me n a normal po ition w rel ti to the frame, x

2. A cycle saddle including a rigid frame member having spaced rear end portions,.a back plate extending between and s cur d to said end portions of the frame and projecting pw d y the e om, a f xib e saddle p; means for securing the marginal. edge of the saddle top at its rear end to said back plate, pom l plat pivotally mount d on th for wardend of the frame, means for securin the marginal edge of the saddle top at it front end to said pommel plate, and resilf iently yieldable means extending longitudinally between the pommel plate and said back plate and attached thereto having uniform supporting contact with the saddle top over substantially its entire area and yieldingly resisting movement of the saddle top and the pommel plate, under the weight ofa rider, relative to the frame and sustaining the same in a normal position'with respect thereto.

3,. A cycle saddle including a rigid frame member having spaced rear end portions, a

back plate extending between and secured to said end portions of the frame and projecting upwardly therefrom, a flexible saddle top, means for securing the marginal edge of the saddle top at its rear end to said back plate, a pommel plate pivotally mounted on the forward end of the frame, means for securing the marginal edge of the saddle top atits front end to said pommel plate, and a plurality of coil springs attached at one of their ends to the rear edge of the pommel plate and extending divergently therefrom rearwardly beneath and in contact with the saddle top and having their other ends attached to said back plate, said coil springs yieldingly resisting movement of the saddle top and the pommel plate and sustaining the same in a normal position with respect to said frame.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name hereto.

FREDERICK MESINGER. 

